I love checking out the castles of North Wales and while we have passed Dolwyddelan Castle many times when travelling between Betws-y-Coed and Blaenau Ffestiniog we have never visited. Returning to our holiday cottage at Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog from flying the zip wires at Zip World we called in to take a look.
When we arrived we had the car park all to our self. From the car park a short walk up the hill takes you to a house where you pay to enter. Just ring the bell by the back door and the lady living there pops out to take your money. To reach the castle is about another five minute walk uphill which is quite steep.
The castle lies in a great situation at the top of the hill and the views are fantastic. It is only a small castle, you can take a look around the main room and follow the stairs up to the battlements. From the battlements the views are even better so it is worth heading up. Over the years various visitors have scratched their names and the dates of their visits into the stones. The kids spent ages looking for the oldest – I think it was 1848. So even the Victorians were vandals.
I liked the fact that the castle felt in the wilds and did not have a visitor centre or gift shop at the end of the visit. Given its location you can certainly see why they choose this spot to build the castle. Worth a visit if you are in the area and there are plenty of walks close by.
Tips
More information http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/dolwyddelan-castle.
Toilets available where you pay.
Steep walk to the castle.
About 10 minute drive from both Betws-y-Coed and Blaenau Ffestiniog which have plenty of food options.